Pink Muhly Grass Other Common Names: Hairy-awn Muhly; Gulf Muhly Scientific Name: Muhlenbergia capillaris Native to Alabama: Yes
	Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - James Garland Holmes Click on image to enlarge it

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Basic Plant Information
	I am a vascular plant with no woody stems and narrow blade-like sheathed leaves, so I am a grass.  I do not keep leaves year-round in colder climates and keep them year round in warmer climates, so I am semi-evergreen. I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial. I can grow 2 - 3 feet high and 2 - 3 feet wide.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center  Sally and Andy Wasowski Click on image to enlarge it

 


















 

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Ecological Benefits
This plant provides food for:
Butterflies	Other Birds

 

Other Plants Found in Alabama with Similar Ecological Benefits:
Cutover Muhly (Muhlenbergia expansa)		Drop Seed (Muhlenbergia schreberi)

   
 

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Maintenance Notes
Brown blades can be cut away in spring to promote new growth. Can divide every few years to promote upright growth and flowering. Seed plumes remain on the plant throughout the winter. Appears lighter in color in the winter. When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds.  Water should reach all roots. Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves. Requires average amount of water.
Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.

 

 

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Habitat Requirements
This plant prefers:
Full Sun (6+ hours of sun per day) Part Sun/Shade (2-6 hours of sun per day)		Average Watering	Well-drained, Sandy, Loamy, Clay,  or Acidic Soil

 

 

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Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification
LEAF DESCRIPTION				Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center James Garland Holmes Click on image to enlarge it
Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)
Shape: Linear	Margin: Entire/Smooth	Arrangement: Alternate	Form: Simple
Description:
Dark, glossy, green leaves; appear hair-like; fine in texture; grow in a stiff and upright pattern

   

FLOWER DESCRIPTION							Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Peggy Romfh Click on image to enlarge it
Flower Shapes Chart (JPG)
Color: Pink/Pinkish-red			Shape: Inflorescence/Raceme (cluster of flowers)			Bloom Months: Aug - Nov
Description:
Showy, open and airy; loosely branched 12" long inflorescences that appear above foliage; Provide a pinkish haze

 

SEED DESCRIPTION			Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Sam C. Strickland Click on image to enlarge it
Type: Fruit - Caryopsis (dry, one-seeded fruit)	Description: Grain-like seeds; purple/pink in color; tan seed plumes remain on the plant throughout winter	Months in Seed: Sep - Nov
Plant spreads by:
Seeds Does not spread by rhizomes; Seeds germinate in light conditions and require some moisture

 
 

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Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle: All plants start life as a seed. The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots. The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground. After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers. After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed. When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again. Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

General Plant Life Cycle - Dreamstime Click on image to enlarge it

 

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

 

Quick Fact Sheet (Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign: Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign: Editable Word Doc

QR Code (Links to this Webpage)

  

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INFORMATION SOURCES FOR THIS PLANT


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Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's Plant Database		USDA Plants Database
North Carolina Entension Gardener Plant Toolbox		Missouri Botanical Garden
Gardening Know How

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